Freddy Martens from Kluisbergen Wins Second National Argenton II Yearlings

Kluisbergen - Freddy Martens from Kluisbergen delivered an impressive performance on the second national flight from Argenton. His blue-white flight cock with ring number BE23-4130352 took second place against no fewer than 11,177 yearlings and was the fourth fastest of 20,044 pigeons.

Martens received the parents of this exceptional cock from Pieter Bauters, who had left pigeon racing. This donation clearly paid off, as evidenced by the performance of BE23-4130352.

Performance of BE23-4130352

2023 - Young birds

8 prizes on 14 flights
8th local Maissemy 178 pigeons
7th local Pont-St.-Max 274 pigeons

2024 - Yearlings

9 prizes on 10 flights
Results:
1st provincial Argenton 2,781 pigeons
- 2nd Nat. Argenton 11,184 pigeons
4th local Ecouen 264 pigeons
4th local Pont-St.-Maxence 77 pigeons
28th local Pont-St.-Maxence 89 pigeons
32nd local Châteauroux 339 pigeons
- 431st provincial 3,413 pigeons
36th local Poitiers 281 pigeons
- 362nd Nat. 2,195 pigeons
- 637th provincial 3,114 pigeons
- 1,800th Nat. 10,574 pigeons
77th local Niergnies 193 pigeons
82nd local Toury 320 pigeons
100th local Ecouen 298 pigeons  

Loft management and training

Freddy Martens plays with one loft of 12 widowers, focusing on middle-distance flights both nationally and provincially. At the start of the season, the pigeons are sent on a weekly flight, depending on the weather conditions, until the first middle distance flight. After that, a rest week is inserted. The first two times of the season the pigeons get to see their partner on the day of departure, depending on the conditions. After that, they are only put on the nest around 30 minutes to an hour on departure and the partner comes to the loft on arrival. In speed races, they stay in the loft for 1 to 2 hours after arrival, in more difficult races this can be until the evening. If there is a rest week after the flight week, the partners stay in the loft until the next day around 9 a.m..Fledging occurs twice a day, 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes around 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Nutrition and Care

For the feeding and care of his pigeons, Freddy has a precise plan:
Feeding:
During the last five feeds before departure, they are fed with Sport Subliem by Versele-Laga. On their return home, the pigeons are fed with Sport Subliem by Versele-Laga during all the feedings they spend with their partner.
During the rest period, a mixture of Super Conditie by Versele-Laga and Superweduwschap by Beyers is given.

Drinking water and Supplements:
On arrival home and before departure, the pigeons are given Lysocur by Comed in the drinking water, the day after they arrive home they are given Respi Top by Versele-Laga in the drinking water.
In terms of supplements, Curol Pigeon, Winmix Pigeon, Roni Pigeon and Stopmite Pigeon by Comed are mixed with the food during the five feedings before the flight.

Previous Success Stories

Freddy Martens is no one-hit wonder in pigeon racing, having won several titles in the past:
2001: Champion old birds VAC
2003: 11th champion national long-distance youngsters
2006: General champion Eendracht Berchem
2007: General champion Kluisbergs Samenspel
2009: General champion Eendracht Ruien
2009: General champion Kluisbergs Samenspel
2010: General champion Eendracht Ruien
2011: General champion Eendracht Ruien

We look forward to more success stories from this talented pigeon fancier from Kluisbergen, congratulations from the whole Herbots team!

Maarten Herbots